It will serve as the basis for surveys of government in a specified area under its jurisdiction. He teaches pre-licensing and continuing education courses for salespeople, brokers, and appraisers. This system has also become known as the rectangular survey system and geodetic survey system.. (The figure below shows a variety of divisions in a quarter section. The rectangular survey system is comprised of principal meridian lines that cover most states in the US, running north to south and baselines running east to west. Learn the basic methodology, and real-world adjustments. This system utilizes a system of rectangular coordinates to create a map of a parcel of land. Using those lines for references, quadrangles are formed, which are smaller squares identifiable by where they are located near the principal meridian and baseline. What Is the Rectangular Survey System Used For? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. He is also a real estate investor, board gamer and homebrewer. One section is 1 mile or 640 square acres, so it still covers a large piece of land and must be divided again.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'realestatelicensewizard_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',690,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-realestatelicensewizard_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Sections are further broken down into half and quarter sections repeatedly until you identify the exact location of a property. 2021 KnowYourGovernment.netContact us: [emailprotected], Introduction to administration of Web Survey System Part 2, Estimating a weighted average CSR2 in Iowa using the USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey, How To Find Lost Money From The Government, What Is The Interest Rate On Government Student Loans, Local Government Federal Credit Union App, When Is Open Enrollment For Government Healthcare, Government Grants For Commercial Real Estate, Government Regulations For Nonprofit Organizations, Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory, Energy Efficient Windows Government Grants, Mortgage Loans For Federal Government Employees, Free Government Foreclosure Listings With Pictures. That means it is 3 townships north of the baseline and 5 townships east of the principal meridian. distinguishing among the various surveys. Principal meridians, baselines, and where they intersect (cross each other) are used as the basis for formulating property descriptions in this system. Originally proposed by Thomas Jefferson, the PLSS began shortly after the Revolutionary War, when the Federal government became responsible for large areas west of the thirteen original colonies. This system divides the country using 37 principal meridians that run north and south and baselines that run east and west. a rectangular system of land survey that divides a district into 24-square mile quadrangles from the meridian (north-south line) and the baseline (east-west line); the tracts are divided into 6-mile-square parts called townships, which are in turn divided into 36 tracts, each 1 mile square, called sections. Manage Settings These divisions mean just that. - The system, which was adopted in 1785, is also called the U.S. System of Rectangular Surveys or the rectangular method. To learn more about these land descriptions, view our Real Estate Principles course, which provides information on ethics of practice, titles to and conveyance of real estate, deeds encumbrances and liens, distinctions between personal and real property, appraisal, finance and regulations, and more. For example, you would say, it is in township 3 north, range 5 east, to identify a property. The townships are consecutively numbered by their location within the intersection of multiple range lines and township lines. Whenever properties have irregular boundaries, the land may be further described using one of the two other systems described in this section. Government Survey System (Rectangular Survey System) Public Land Survey System (PLSS) After the Revolutionary War ended, the United States Government needed a way to describe lands in the West to insure locating and selling. In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. The rectangular survey or government survey describes. Annexation in Real Estate: Method & Laws | What is Annexation? It can be a quick and relatively straightforward way of dividing large areas of land into manageable, legally identifiable sections from the very large to the fairly small. In other words, after section number 6, it drops down to 7 on the next tier then goes left to right to number 12. Think about two more lines running up and down the page on top of the first two lines, also about an inch apart. The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) or the Government Survey System, is a way of measuring and establishing boundary lines for large areas of. The three legal real estate land descriptions are important information that all real estate agents and brokers must understand to pass their real estate exam and receive their license. Also Check: When Is Open Enrollment For Government Healthcare. So, you can refer to the south (S) 1/2 of the northwest (NW) 1/4 of a section in a township, for example. ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The rectangular survey system, often referred to as the government survey system, is based on a system of lines that form rectangles and squares throughout the United States. Although the lines start out the same distance apart, they get closer together as you get near one or the other end of the ball.\r\n\r\nCorrection lines and guide meridians were established to correct this problem in the government survey system. For the real estate exam, youll need to know the two primary survey methods. Then the numbering drops down to 13 and goes right to left again and so forth: Each section of 640 acres can be divided into halves and quarters called, get this, half sections and quarter sections. Think about two more lines running up and down the page on top of the first two lines, also about an inch apart. Now known as the Public Land Survey System, this system divided the western lands into grid-shaped townships and sections. The grid is divided into smaller sections known as quadrangles, townships, sections, half-sections, and quarter-sections, used to describe property boundaries in most of the United States. Sections can be further subdivided into quarter sections, quarter-quarter sections, or irregular government lots. This is not merely the address of the property but is a legal description. Graphic depiction of the Rectangular Survey System. (The figure below shows a variety of divisions in a quarter section.). Many areas in the other states are also more accurate. There are several advantages of the rectangular land survey system. For a government survey to be valid, the official plat must have been approved by the government . Metes and bounds were used as the primary survey method before 1785 and were fairly inaccurate, especially before GPS technology. Join over 10,000 subscribers and pass your exam today! document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Sign up for the newsletter to get exclusive real estate exam tips that I don't share anywhere else. Livable, Rentable & Usable Area: Definition & Examples. For example, you would say it is in township 3 north, range 5 east to identify a property. Ian is a 3D printing and digital design entrepreneur with over five years of professional experience. From this initial . The rectangular survey or government survey describes land by reference to a. (This description refers to a 10-acre parcel of land. 1 Square mile is equal to 640 acres. The government rectangular survey method is a legal description for land. 6 b/c each township is divided in 36 sections, each section is 1 sq mile; 36/6 = 6 in each row. You can think of this system as a gigantic checkerboard, as it has a bunch of intersecting lines that form squares into a grid. Novation in Real Estate | Novation of Contract. As mentioned above, basically you can think of the US as a huge checkerboard, with vertical and horizontal lines splitting it up. For instance, a quarter section always contains 160 acres, or a fourth of the total 640 acres in a section. It is extended north from the Base Line and runs at 24 miles east and west from the principal meridian. The system was further modified to facilitate the transfer of large quantities of government-owned western lands to . Remember that although these correction lines and guide meridians are the way the government deals with the issue of the earths curvature, it isnt the way the government survey system describes land. Guide meridians and standard parallels form quadrangles. These surveys, completed between 1848 and May 1857 were primarily on land located between the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers or in the southeastern corner of Minnesota. Quarter sections have an area of 160 acres.\r\n \t

Half sections: Half section is a description of any two abutting quarter sections within a section, usually accompanied by a directional notation indicating the half of the section in which the two quarter sections are located. For example, you can say the east of section 3. That means the property is 320 acres and located on the east half of that section. A township in this system can be both a line and the square of land created by the township lines and range lines. The Rectangular Survey System is used for surveying land for sale and settling, along with the Metes and Bounds survey method. | 16 Standard parallels run east to west along with the baseline. Correction lines occur at every fourth township line or every 24 miles north and south of the baseline. So how does the system describe land? So, there can be the north, south, east, or west half section.

\r\n\r\nBecause of the curvature of the earth, the lines in the government survey system are only theoretically straight. Now, the way it really works is for this page to be filled with the lines going up and down and right to left so that you have many townships. The land is then further divided into quadrangles. Then the numbering drops down to 13 and goes right to left again and so forth:

\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274749\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"532\"] Townships are divided into 36 sections numbered consecutively. Areas smaller than full-size sections are known as government lots and are numbered and placed in fractional sections. Note that the more detailed legal descriptions usually begin with the smallest area and work to the largest. )

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Figuring out the size of a piece of property, which sometimes is called a parcel, is simple, if you keep in mind that youre always dealing with a section of 640 acres. Using principal meridians and baselines as points of reference, land areas are divided by two kinds of lines, township lines and range lines. Sections also are numbered consecutively. Take for example there is a shared baseline in both Nebraska and Kansas as both states border is at the 40th parallel north. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. The township and range definition of a parcel of land, then, is its location in relation to the township and range lines. The range lines run north and south parallel to the principal meridians. Longitude and latitude are imaginary lines that divide the earth through the north and south poles (longitude) and run parallel with the equator (latitude). So, you can refer to the south (S) 1/2 of the northwest (NW) 1/4 of a section in a township, for example. You got it: Tic tac toe. The lines are spaced 24 miles apart, creating squares that are around 576 square miles. Just because they are referred to as government lots does not mean the government owns the land they contain. Remember, there are 36 square miles in a township, and each section is 1 square mile. The system was created by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. The area is further divided into six-mile segments using range lines that run parallel to the principal meridian and township lines that run parallel to the baselines. Whenever properties have irregular boundaries, the land may be further described using one of the two other systems described in this section. Specific directional references are needed in the actual description to locate a particular piece of property, but for finding out how large a particular piece of property is, only the fractions matter.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_274747\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"] Sections can be divided in a variety of ways, including quarters and smaller sections. [/caption]\r\n\r\nA full rectangular survey system property description might read:\r\n

The SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 6, Township 4 South, Range 5, East of the Third Principal Meridian. The grid is further divided by lines that run parallel to and between the principal meridian lines, called range lines, and lines that run parallel to and between the baselines, called township lines. The strips of land they form are known as township tiers. There may also be questions about how much land is in a specific plot or section. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is the surveying method developed and used in the United States to plat, or divide, real property for sale and settling.Also known as the Rectangular Survey System, it was created by the Land Ordinance of 1785..